I Hate My Network!!!!!!

For years, many different computers, many different routers, many different peoples opinions.. I have never been able to get my simple home network's file sharing to work correctly! All the computers are running Windows Xp, I do the network setup wizard, everything should be working.. then it will.. then it won't, all depends on the day.. who knows what to expect. This is how it works on 3 different computers, some are accessible at times, some are not. I'll go into the routers configuration.. clear everything, renew the ip's.. maybe that fixes it, today it wouldn't. Sometimes I'll unplug everything and plug it all back in, sometimes that works.. today that wouldn't. Is it really this hard to get the simplest windows XP network to be reliable? What do I need to do here? I'm currently running a Trendnet Tw100 Router and have comcast as an ip. I'm pretty desperate here. I count on the use of my network for my home business at times and it failed me in an important situation today. I'm endlessly frustrated with this.. please help!!

 

The Routers have nothing to do with file and printer sharing, it is just a matter of setting correctly the Networked computers.

Successful Sharing involves some general consideration in Network settings,http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html

As well as specific adjustment of each computer according to what it is allowed to be shared.

Vista File and Printer Sharing- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspx

Basic XP - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/filesharing.mspx

Advanced XP - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040

Printer Sharing XP - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx

Windows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357

Windows XP patch for Sharing with Vista - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120
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